Has anyone on this list tried the Kensington WiFi Finder device yet?  It
is supposed to find publicly accessible 802.11b and 802.11g APs without
using a computer.  Just a small keychain size device with LEDs to show if
an access point is broadcasting.  Its supposed to show signal strength as
well.  I'm considering buying one (PCMall has it for $19.99) as it would
allow me to find wireless access without wasting laptop battery power. I've read some comments on http://wifinetnews.com/archives/002024.html
saying it won't find AP's unless they are broadcasting SSID.  Also someone
said it kept finding his cordless phone despite the fact that Kensington
states it filters out everything thats not 802.11


Mark

In <3F380F54.7090606@2rosenthals.com>, on 08/11/03 at 05:49 PM,
  Lewis G Rosenthal <lgrosenthal@2rosenthals.com> said:

 

Randy, you're gonna love this...
   

 

You (and I) do exactly as he recommends. From Chapter 4, designing your Wi-Fi Network, page 81:
   

 

  Predicition is mostly useless. The only way to be sure is to set up
  an access point temporarily in a prospective position, then walk
  around with a laptop running a field strength utility of some kind,
  drawing on the structure blueprints or sketch the boundaries are
  between "green" and "yellow."
   

 

I was expecting him to come out and say, "Spend your money on this XYZ device from ABC. Turn it on, wave it around, and voilà! Instant AP placement." He seems to advocate the fly-by-your-pants approach most of us use. He does mention about using a notebook with a "weak" antenna, to try to get a worst case scenario.